Khizr Khan
gigatos | May 28, 2022
Summary
Sayyid Khizr Khan ibn Malik Suleiman (? – May 20, 1421) was a sultan of the Delhi Sultanate (1414-1421), founder of the Sayyid dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate in northern India.
Hizr Khan was the governor of Multan in the Punjab under the Delhi Sultan Firuza Shah of the Tughlaqid dynasty and was known as an able administrator. He did not take any title because of fear of Tamerlane. During his reign, coins continued to be minted in the name of previous rulers of the Tuglakid dynasty. After his death on May 20, 1421, he was succeeded by his son Mubarak Khan, who took the title Muiz-ud-Din Mubarak-Shah.
The Indian chronicler Yahya Sirhindi mentions in his book Tahrir-e-Mubarak Shahi that Khizr Khan was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, but his conclusion was based only on the testimony of Saint Seyid Jalal-ud-Din Bukhari of Uch Sharif. Malik Mardan Daulat, the ruler of Multan, adopted Khizr Khan”s father, Malik Sulayman. Malik Suleiman succeeded Malik Sheikh, son of Malik Mardan, as governor. After his death, Firuz Shah Tughlaq appointed Khizr Khan as governor of Multan. But in 1395 he was expelled from Multan by Sarang-Khan, brother of Mallu Iqbal-Khan. He fled to Mewat and later moved to the court of the Central Asian conqueror Tamerlane. Khizr Khan assisted Tamerlane during his military campaign to the Delhi sultanate in 1398-1399. It is believed that before returning from India, Tamerlane appointed Khizr Khan as his viceroy in Delhi, although he actually ruled only Multan, Deepalpur, and parts of Sindh. Soon he began his campaign and defeated Malla Iqbal Khan. After defeating Daulat Khan Lodi, Khizr Khan entered Delhi victoriously on May 28, 1414.
After his accession to the throne, Khizr Khan appointed as his vizier Malik-us-Shark Tufa, who was given the title Taj-ul-Mulk, and he remained in office until 1421. In 1414 an army led by the Taj-ul-Mulk was sent to suppress the rebellion of Khar Singh, Raja Katehar. Raja fled into the forests, but was eventually forced to surrender and agree to pay tribute in the future. In 1417, Khizr Khan received permission from Shahrukh to have his own name, also attached to Shahrukh”s name. In 1418 Khar Singh rebelled again, but was completely defeated by the Taj-ul-Mulk.
On May 20, 1421, Khidr Khan died and was succeeded by his son Sayyid Mubarak Shah (1421-1434).
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